Located in Montreal and founded by experienced industry players, Ludia's innovative and high-quality product portfolio consists of original and branded properties including, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?®, Family Feud®, Jurassic Park, Press Your Luck®, The Price Is Right®, Where's Waldo?® and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Did you get the chance to go to #MIGS16 this year? Our team was there and it was a busy, productive, interesting and rewarding 3 days. As the bronze partner, we had a lot going on at our booth. Some of our Ludians were also involved in conferences and interviews. These types of events are so important for the gaming industry and we enjoy being a part of it. Here’s a look at what we were up to:

Our booth was in a prime location, which allowed us to meet and chat with a lot of people from the Montreal video game scene as well as students and professionals from other cities and countries.

Jonathan Abenhaim – Lead Animator on our Dragons: Rise of Berk game, gave a conference on animating efficiently. He did a live demo to the sound of progressive house music. The audience seemed to like the ambiance.

… He was also interviewed by IMGMR and Girls on Games to name a few. He had a great time talking about his work, his career and his day to day at Ludia!

Espresso Jobs also interviewed one of our recruiters and one of our programmers to find out a bit more about the company, our culture and values.

Our Production manager, Jimmy Beaubien, was asked to be a mentor at the IGDA mentor café.

The coding competition at our booth was a hit. Many people came by to show off their skills.

As you probably guessed, we had candy once again this year. It’s become a tradition that’s appreciated by many.

It’s time for the MIGS and as tradition has it, we’ll be at the Palais des Congrès from November 13th to 15th as the Bronze Sponsor of the Montreal International Game Summit. What do we have in store for you? We’ll have a booth with a lounge and gaming area, a coding competition and candy. Come by and talk with our Ludians about our studio, job opportunities and our projects. One of our lead animators will also be giving a conference on Tuesday, November 15th at 11am in room 518C. Find out more…

Tell me about yourself and your career?

My name is Jonathan Abenhaim and I’m a lead animator at Ludia. Growing up and living in Montreal, I’ve worked in this city my whole life. I’ve been in the video game industry for the past 16 years. Three years ago, I decided to switch from AAA to mobile because, over the past decade, mobile has proven to be a very popular platform that keeps evolving and can’t be ignored anymore.

What made you want to give a talk at the MIGS?

Since animating is not only a job but a passion, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share that with others in the industry. I love animating so much that, in my free time; I create video tutorials that I share on my You Tube channel. For me, giving a conference at the MIGS is an opportunity to do the same thing while talking to a live audience of industry professionals and upcoming artists in the animation community.

What will your conference be about?

The title of my conference is The Journey from AAA Animation to Mobile: Animation Efficiency. I will be sharing animation techniques that will show you how to animate efficiently, how to create more with less (using 1 animation to create 3) without losing the quality in your animation. I’ll be doing a live demo instead of showing a static presentation, so I’m really excited about that. The MIGS is an important yearly event for the industry and I think it’s a great place to share knowledge, learn from one another and connect with industry professionals.

We recently welcomed the inspiring Kate Arthur, founder of Kids Code Jeunesse, and her colleague Yasmin Ahmad to our studio. For those who are not familiar with this non-profit organization, its mission is to ensure that every kid in Canada has the opportunity to learn how to code. Here's how…

According to Kids Code Jeunesse, programming is increasingly important to navigate in today’s world and it’s essential that kids get access to this information. Since June 2013, the organization trains volunteers and instructors to go to different schools and teach students how to code.

Focus is also placed on accessibility. Many schools and community centers in Canada that can’t afford a programming instructor because of financial difficulties can count on their support. We’re proud that our donations have gone to two grade schools, including École Saint-Justin and École au Pied-de-la-Montagne. These schools and others are supported by the organization.

As one of Kids Code Jeunesse’s partners, we encourage people to get involved in this cause that’s so closely linked to the future and development of the technology industry. Whether it be your time or money, don’t hesitate to offer your support. There are several ways to do get involved. You can visit their website for more information!

The month of June has been particularly good for us! From Montreal to Toronto with a quick stop in Germany, we received 3 awards for projects in different areas of activity.

First off, our advertising campaign "Come as you are" won 2 awards. Since September 2015, it’s been circulating in magazines, on the web and social media. It received an excellence award from both the “Société québécoise des professionnels en relations publiques” and the Canadian Public Relations Society. The advertising campaign, which showcases our people and their eccentricities, stood out because of its playful and human side. Who doesn’t dream of coming to work in zebra-patterned Snuggie?

On top of that, Alex Thabet, Ludia’s CEO and founder also received an award during an event recognizing the best entrepreneurs of Bertelsmann, a company of the RTL family which Ludia is a member of via FremantleMedia. His business vision and the many years he devoted to the growth of Ludia were recognized in the “Strategy Execution” category. Congratulations Alex, we’re proud of you!

With Care and Community being two of our core values, we are extremely proud to contribute to Apple’s Apps for Earth by raising awareness and contributing to the support of our natural wildlife.

From now till April 24th, exclusive content such as new land dinosaurs, brand new greenhouses, energy-generating turbines, and more will be made available to our Jurassic World™: The Game players and 100% of these proceeds will go to WWF!

Ludia, Apple, and WWF are working together to protect life on our planet and we are encouraging you to join the cause!

On February 24th, we hosted a panel, in collaboration with Pixelles, on diversity in the gaming industry. We welcomed 5 amazing and inspiring women who work in that milieu. Armed with good advice and tips on how to break into the industry, they spoke to a room filled with several young women, and some men, who want to be a part of this exciting world! For your convenience, we took the evening’s main highlights and put them in this post...

Networking is important

Networking will greatly improve your chances of success. Go out and meet people who work in the industry, it will open doors for you. Get involved in events organized within the video game industry, among others, and make connections with people on LinkedIn. Recruiters and industry people use this tool a lot in order to expand their network.

Preparing for the interview is crucial

When searching for a job, do not limit yourself to the job description. Sometimes you have to take a chance and let the recruiter do the screening. Once you get an interview, come prepared by doing your homework on the company. Research their games and the technology they use. During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions: recruiters like to see that you are interested in their company.

The "fit" is important

In addition to technical skills, studios are looking for candidates who have a personality and values similar to their own. Humility, team spirit and authenticity are qualities that are more and more important to employers. Whether you are extroverted or not, each person can find his/her place in this industry.

All experiences count

Take internships seriously, treat them the same way you would a full-time job. More often than not, internships become permanent positions and open several doors. You’ll also want to use internships as opportunities to get to know your strengths.

What employers want

It’s a fact that, in 2016, there is still a lack of women in industry. However, companies want more diversity; they want more women on their team. Furthermore, studios are looking for passionate people who work well in teams.

For this edition of Ludians in the Spotligh, we would like to introduce you to Julie. She's a 2D artist at Ludia and she loves her work environment and what she does. Here's why...

What is your name and what do you do at Ludia?

Julie Bor, 2D Artist

Tell me about your career path

I was born in France and studied graphic and web design in a visual communication school there. I love drawing and being creative so this was the perfect career choice for me. When I moved to Quebec, one of my friends who worked at Ludia, told me about the company and how much he liked working there. I was always a fan of the video game industry so I applied and I’m still here today.

Tell me about your day to day at Ludia

As a 2D artist, I spend my days drawing and creating. I'm working on a game that’s not released yet but it's a really interesting project that allows me to explore several graphic styles. I like that; it allows me to do different things every day. Having new challenges motivates and drives me. I never get tired of doing what I do.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced on the job?

The challenge I faced was learning to adapt to a new technical language specific to the gaming industry. Before working at Ludia, I worked as a freelancer and in much smaller companies where the terms used were simpler, closer to everyday language.

What is the most enjoyable part of working at Ludia?

The people and the work environment. The gaming industry is a very creative milieu and the people who work in the field are friendly and dynamic. We have a very colorful and inclusive environment where employees can express themselves freely. I love being able to be who I am and dress the way I like. Another point I find important is the fact that at Ludia, employees are not treated like numbers. We feel like we’re part of a group and that we're contributing to the success of the company.

Tell me a fun fact about yourself OR one of your hidden talents

I have several tattoos and as a hobby, I asked a tattoo artist friend to show me the technique. I am fortunate to know many people who let me practice on them.

Vincent Noiret is a seasoned video game industry professional. He works as a producer at Ludia and manages the Jurassic Park Builder and Jurassic World teams. His experience and charisma are essential to the work he does and we’re happy to have him on board. We’re happy to introduce him to you!

Tell me about your career path in the video game industry

I’ve been working in the video game industry for 23 years. When I was younger, I participated in a championship organized by Nintendo and I won first prize. Someone at Nintendo noticed me and recommended me for a QA Tester position. That's how I started out in this world I love so much. Throughout the years, I worked as a game designer, a level designer, a content manager which led me to the role of producer. I started working at Ludia in July 2012 on the Jurassic Park Builder game. Today, I also manage the Jurassic World team.

What part of your job do you like the most?

I like to see the game take shape with the help of every member on the team and see our efforts yield a game that meets everyone’s expectations. In order to achieve this, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere is necessary and it drives me to do my job even better day after day.

What are the main differences between Jurassic Park Builder and Jurassic World?

Jurassic World required much more artistic resources to achieve the stunning realism in the modeling and animations of our dinosaurs. I would say that Jurassic Park Builder is the pioneer of Ludia’s builder games while Jurassic World has pushed the boundaries of technical know-how which makes it a success in terms of programming, animation and design. Furthermore in terms of design, the combat mode was also able to bring a greater depth than before. The social aspect of the game is also much more developed than in Jurassic Park Builder.

What are the biggest technical challenges?

Being able to achieve the best possible gaming experience on a maximum of mobile devices, starting from the least performing to the most recent. It’s a constant challenge because the game grows constantly in terms of content.

What are your favorite dinosaurs?

I don’t have one in particular. What interests me is the amount of creativity that goes into animating the dinosaurs. On the other hand, if I had to choose, I would have to say that I like the Kaprosuchus. It has just been added to the 4th update that was launched a few weeks ago. I also like aquatic dinosaurs because the animations are different in a water based environment.

Can you give us an idea of what we can expect for Jurassic World in 2016?

We will try to boost daily events in order to provide players with a lot of action and a different gaming experience every day. That's all I can reveal for now. Stay tuned !

Ludia was part of the activities and networking as the bronze partner of the MIGS this year. The event was a great success. For this edition, a third day was added in order to fit even more interesting conferences and make the event more accessible to everyone. Ludia was well represented at its booth with a team of motivated and open-minded people excited to chat about the industry and what they do. There were many memorable moments, here are a few:

Once again this year, our booth was in the middle of all the action. Its theme was inspired by our recent ad campaign showcasing the company’s culture and employees.

Many people from the industry, as well as students and professionals looking for internships or jobs came to see us!

Three of our Ludians were chosen to give conferences. From mobile games to company culture and technology, there was something for everyone.

Kim Parkinson, Assistant Director - Talent Management at Ludia, was interviewed by CBC News! This demonstrates that the video game industry in Montreal is alive and well. Watch it here (the interview starts at 18:00).

It wouldn’t be a Ludia booth without candy. However, this year, we added a massage station to highlight the importance we put on well-being, which was very much appreciated by everyone.

And it’s a wrap. Thanks to everyone who came to see us. We enjoyed meeting all of you!

There are only a few days left before the start of MIGS15! Once again this year, Ludia will be participating in this industry event as the Bronze Sponsor! Like last year, our booth will be the place to be. Here's an idea of what we have in store for you...

Our booth will be equipped with a charging station that visitors can take advantage of at any time during the event! We'll have a team on site who will chat with participants about job opportunities and projects. We'll also have a lounge area, sweet treats and other surprises that will be unveiled during the event.

In addition to having a booth at the MIGS this year, two Ludians have been chosen to give a presentation on current topics in the video game industry. Jean-Philip Desjardins, Technical Director, will do a case study on cutting edge graphics in Jurassic World™: The Game. For more information, click here. Alexandre Denault, Director of Online Operations, will give a presentation entitled: You can't fix it if you can't find what is broken. Click here for details.

Since its launch on April 30th 2015, Jurassic World™: The Game has quickly become a fan favorite, ranked #1 on Apple’s App Store in over 30 countries and one of the top 10 grossing apps in over 50 countries. We would like to thank our fans for contributing to the game’s success and for helping to make it the biggest launch in the studio’s history.

Thanks to this overwhelming success, we are happy to announce that we will invest in our resources, infrastructure and renowned intellectual properties in order to continue creating more quality games. In the near future, we will be expanding our studio in order to accommodate the 100 new hires, who will join the current employees who are working on the four new franchises in production at the studio. For more details, we invite you to read the press release: http://ludia.gg/1VQ27Cw

The mobile video game industry continues to grow and we’re happy to be an important player among other renowned studios in Montreal.

In January 2015, Ludia set out to define its values, its DNA. You want to find out more? Keep reading...

To define our values, we used a modern approach where we first asked our employees to tell us what they believe defines Ludia. With the help of Corto Rev, an organizational development agency, we collected information through focus groups, testimonials and surveys. This very important exercise allowed us to capture the essence of our community. Throughout the process, Antro, a creative agency, filmed employee accounts as well as their daily routine in order to create a video. This video reflects the vision they have of their work environment, their community of peers, in short, our values and our culture.

In May 2015, we presented the results of this exercise to our employees at our annual conference, Hors-Jeu.

In short, Ludia is passion, care, community and pride... our employees at the heart of our culture.

We are very proud to share the result with you. For more details regarding the definition of our values, we invite you to watch the video.

Ludians are not just a group of individuals who work together; they are also a community of people who share similar interests and a common space. Our work environment is not limited to our studio. We are fortunate to be located in an area that offers many different activities. In addition to being in constant effervescence, it’s an inspiring place overflowing with creativity. It’s not surprising that other video game studios, video production studios and art galleries have chosen to set up shop there. You want to know why Ludians love their work environment? It's simple ...

The best of both worlds: The Old Port is like being in nature right in the middle of the city. Once you step outside of our studio, it's a 2 minute walk to the waterfront. It's the perfect setting to take a walk at lunch with colleagues or go for a jog. You can even stop along the way for a paleta.

A gym in our back yard: Our studio is located next to the bike path, which is convenient because several Ludians ride their bicycle to work. Since health is an important part of our corporate culture, we encourage our employees to be active. It's the perfect way to combine business with pleasure.

Neighborhood life: While making your way to the studio, it's impossible not to feel inspired. From building architecture to artists who have set up their kiosks near Place Jacques-Cartier, there is always something around to fuel our creativity.

The pleasures of food: Forgetting your lunch is not a problem when you work close to several delicious restaurants. During the summer, even more choices are available to us because of the food trucks. There are also many parks close by where we can eat outside and enjoy the weather.

A feast for the senses: The Old Port has a number of museums and festivals. Whether it's music, history, archaeology, cooking or fitness and well-being that interests Ludians, there's definitely something for everyone.

If you enjoyed learning about Ludians and what makes them so special, you'll be happy to know that, once again this year, we'll be bringing you more "Ludians in the Spotlight". Did you ever wonder what a motion designer does? Take a few minutes to read about Étienne's day to day and find out!

What is your name and what do you do at Ludia?

Étienne Cossette, motion designer

Tell me about your career path

When I was 14, I learned to use Flash by myself and I spent hours creating animations of "Stickman". Being passionate about animation, I knew right away what I wanted to study. In CEGEP, I studied multimedia and in university, I did a Bachelor’s degree in 3D creation. After graduating, I worked for one year and a half for a small advertising company before becoming a Ludian.

Tell me about your day to day at Ludia

At Ludia, I create 2D and 3D animations, user interface animations and special effects for the games I work on. The challenge is to design cool animations while taking into account the technical constraints of games on mobile platforms.

What part of your job do you like the most?

I love being part of a team! Communication is a big part of my job. I need to be in close contact with my colleagues in order to produce coherent animations or to solve technical problems.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced on the job?

My work requires a lot of attention to detail. I have to name, organize, and sort my files accurately. I also have to document every step taken in order for programmers to quickly understand how to integrate my animations into the game. One single mistake can slow down the entire team.

What is the most enjoyable part of working at Ludia?

The warm atmosphere of small work teams. I also love the bagels, the weekly happy hour and the pool table in the lounge!

Do you have a hidden talent?

I have an excellent auditory memory! After hearing a song a few times, I already know all the lyrics by heart. I am the king of karaoke!

Once again this year, Ludia participated in the MIGS as the bronze partner of the event. We had a busy couple of days and we're happy with what we took away from it. For those of you who couldn’t come to the MIGS, here are some of the highlights. For those of you who were present, here is a refresher:

We did a lot of networking with aspiring video game talent, industry professionals, gaming companies and gamers!

We worked really hard on our booth to make it fun and creative. There is no better way to reflect our company’s culture and work environment.

In true Ludia fashion, we gave out a lot of candy… we also ate a lot of it!

We attended some interesting conferences and learned about new trends in the industry! We even sat in on Phil Ha's presentation, one of our Ludians.

We had a lot of fun testing the knowledge of those who were courageous enough to take the programming challenge.

We’re so happy to have been part of this event! Thanks to the MIGS for organizing it and to those who came to see us! It was a great success! See you in 2015!

Ludia is known for having one of the best work environments in the video game industry in Montreal. Espresso-Jobs interviewed our very own David Da Costa, talent acquisition advisor, and published an article about how great it is to work at Ludia. You can read it here. (article in French only)

The Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) has officially started. Many Ludians are on site in order to talk to those interested in joining the gaming industry. Whether you have a lot of experience or are fresh out of school, come see us!

What is your name and what do you do at Ludia?

Mathieu Lapierre, game programmer

How did you get into the video game industry?

I studied at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) in video game design. After getting my degree in May 2013, I moved to Quebec City thinking that I would find work quickly. Unfortunately, that was not the case. To put all the odds on my side, I decided to apply in several other cities, including Montreal. I was lucky enough to be chosen by Ludia who hired me in December 2013.

What part of your job do you like the most?

I love challenges. Sometimes I am asked to fix bugs in the game. I love to analyze and dissect the code in order to find out what’s not working. It’s very rewarding to find solutions to problems.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced on the job?

A few months after my arrival at Ludia, there was a big update on Jurassic Park, the project I work on. We had a lot of changes to implement within a rather short period of time, which took a lot of teamwork. It was a very rewarding experience.

What is the most enjoyable part of working at Ludia?

At Ludia, the work atmosphere is great. People are happy to be here and you can feel it in the air. The work environment is dynamic, and it really makes you want to come to work in the morning.

Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the video game industry?

The key is networking! It’s important to get involved in events related to video games such as the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) or the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). When I was studying at UQAC I was lucky enough to win passes to the MIGS two years in a row. It was a fantastic experience. It’s important to take advantage of every networking opportunity that comes your way because you never know who you might meet!

Once again this year, Ludia is participating in the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) as the Bronze sponsor. Among other things, this event is an excellent opportunity to network and learn more about what is happening in the industry. For the occasion, we would like to introduce you to one Ludian who recently made his debut in the world of video games.

What is your name and what do you do at Ludia?

Pascal Guay, Game Programmer

How did you get into the video game industry?

I have a degree in software engineering with a specialization in video games from Concordia University. During my studies, I did a four-month internship at Ubisoft, my first experience in the gaming industry. One week after graduating in April 2014, I was hired by Ludia as a game programmer.

What part of your job do you like the most?

I was fortunate to be hired to work on a game that was at the beginning of its production phase. It's really great to be involved in a project where everything must be created from scratch. It allows me to have a greater involvement in the creation side of things and I love to program new modules (features) in the game.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced on the job?

Since the design of the game is constantly evolving and can change drastically during the iterations, I must learn to do programming that will adapt well to unexpected changes in the future. Also, working with dinosaurs that have an attitude is not always obvious.

What is the most enjoyable part of working at Ludia?

At Ludia, the work environment is so friendly that it makes you want to stay. I love the open space concept which allows for greater communication between teams. People are happy and there are many activities that facilitate exchanges between employees. For my part, I love to play ping-pong, pool and socialize with my colleagues during happy hour in the lounge on Fridays.

Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the video game industry?

The video game industry is very competitive. It’s important to network and meet people with similar interests. During my studies, I joined a group that’s part of the video game community in Montreal: The Mount Royal Game Society (MRGS). I met several interesting people and it allowed me to gain visibility. There are many groups like this one in Montreal, you just have to do a bit of research and get involved.

In every family, each member is unique and plays an important role. At Ludia, we are lucky to have talented employees who contribute to the success of our company on a daily basis. Here is an employee who has a very interesting yet lesser known role in the gaming industry.

What is your name and what do you do at Ludia?

Bonie Carine Noufele Ntanke, Analytics Developer

Tell me about your career path

I have a university degree in information technology with a focus on database programming. It's my passion for data that led me to analytics. Before joining Ludia, I worked for other companies where I produced reports and did data extraction. This is what led me to what I do today.

Tell me about your day to day at Ludia

At first glance, my work may seem abstract to those who don’t know what an analytics developer does. Basically, I do data analysis, extraction and transformation which allow me to get useful statistics that directly benefit our games. With my training in programming, I create codes that transform data so that it can be interpreted. If data is not transformed, it can’t tell us a story so, the magic lies in the transformation. For example, data can tell me what our players like or dislike which allows the development team to adapt the games as needed.

What part of your job do you like the most?

I'm a very analytical person so I love the side of my job that allows me to investigate in depth. I love digging to find relevant information to help us improve our products.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced on the job?

Ludia is a rapidly growing company, which means that I have to adapt quickly to the increasing volume of data, new concepts and new technologies.

What is the most enjoyable part of working at Ludia?

What's really great is that I have the opportunity to explore new ways of working. I am encouraged to push myself and explore new things, which I really like.

Do you have a hidden talent?

Outside of work, I trade in my analytical side in favor of my creative side. I like to embroider all kinds of motifs on cushions, pillow covers, sheets and table runners. Embroidery is truly one of my favorite hobbies.

In the context of his upcoming conference at the MIGS, Community Manager, Phil Ha, was interviewed by GamesIndustry.biz. Congrats to Phil on his interview! Follow this link to read the entire article: http://bit.ly/1vNhCj2 (Article in English only)